Tragic Blast at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Claims Eight Lives; Probe Launched

A catastrophic accident at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant resulted in eight fatalities and six injuries. Andhra Pradesh MoS Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma announced a probe and compensation. Union and state ministers have pledged support, and financial aid was promised by Prime Minister Modi.

The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant witnessed a tragic accident, claiming eight lives and injuring six others. On Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh MoS Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma confirmed the fatalities and injuries, revealing that a three-member expert committee has been established to investigate the incident and propose preventive measures.

Addressing the media at the accident site, Srinivasa Varma stated that two of the injured remain in serious condition. He assured that compensation amounting to approximately Rs 1.7 crores for permanent employees and Rs 40 to 45 lakhs for temporary employees is being finalized. The committee is slated to begin its investigation immediately.

Union Ministers HD Kumaraswamy and Ram Mohan Naidu, along with Andhra Pradesh officials, reviewed the site earlier. A massive leak of molten steel from facilities SMS-2 and STC-3 caused the tragedy. In the aftermath, Kumaraswamy announced Rs 25 lakh compensation for the deceased's families and Rs 10 lakh for the injured, while Prime Minister Modi promised Rs 2 lakh for deceased kin and Rs 50,000 for the injured under the PM's National Relief Fund.